高一英语时文专题训练四

高一英语时文专题训练(四)
——文化艺术
Passage 31 Embracing the knowledge economy age
The knowledge economy age is upon us. We have explored or established many new academic fields. We are also surprised to find that more skills and technologies are emerging every year, every month, even every day, and knowledge is really expanding at an alarming speed. All these points to the fact that the knowledge economy is rapidly approaching us.
Knowledge will play a dominant role in this current economic system The possession, manufacture, distribution and consumption of information are the basis of economic activities. Whoever possess more knowledge will be the master of today’s society. Hence the pursuit of new knowledge will be every individual’s goal and lifelong commitment.
How can I better embrace the new age? As a student, I have already realized how stiff the competition will be. So I have become determined to make the best of my time to acquire as much knowledge as possible. Even after graduation, I will do my utmost to update my knowledge and master all necessary skills needed in my future career. Knowledge is strength and wealth. After all, opportunity always benefits the prepared mind.
1.Which age is upon us? ________
A.The knowledge economy age.
B.The stone age.
C.The industry age.
D.The industry age.
2.Why is the age upon us? _______
A.We have a lot of money.
B.We have a lot of factories.
C.Knowledge is really expanding at an alarming speed.
D.We have already realized how stiff the competition will be.
3.The person who told the story is probably a ________
A.teacher
B.student
C.businessman
D.doctor
Passage 32 One language for everyone
A story from the Bible (圣经) tells of old Babylon, where the men decided to build a tower that would touch the sky. But God was unhappy, and he made them speak different languages. They couldn't understand each other, so their dream never came true.
Yet the dream remains alive: if all men speak the same language, they can do anything. L.L. Zamenhof from Poland was among the men who pursue this dream. He developed Esperanto (世界语) between 1877 and 1885.
As the most successful man-made world language, it is spoken by over two million people around the world.
Last month, the World Esperanto Congress(大会), dealing with language rights, ended in Sweden. The 2004 conference will be held in Beijing.
Most Esperanto speakers are in Central and Eastern Europe and in East Asia, particularly Chinese mainland.
Esperanto has two advantages (优点). First, it's easy. Each letter has exactly one sound and there are just 16 basic grammar rules. The second advantage is that it belongs to no one country.
But Esperanto has only reached a small number of people compared with natural languages widely used around the world — such as English or Chinese. While these languages are deeply connected with their nations and cultures, Esperanto doesn't have this background.
Will Esperanto really become a global language? It remains a question.
1. The writer tells us a story at the beginning to _______.
A. explain why men have been making the effort to create a language
shared by all
B. explain why men now speak different languages
C. show the relationship between man and God
D. prove language is very important
2. What does the word “pursue” in the second paragraph mean?
A. Realize.
B. Work for.
C. Be against.
D. Follow.
3. What is the basic difference between Esperanto and English?
A. More people speak English than Esperanto.
B. Esperanto words are easier to spell.
C. Esperanto has fewer grammar rules.
D. Esperanto is not supported by any country or culture.
4. What does the story mainly talk about?
A. Advantages and disadvantages of Esperanto.
B. Men's dream of sharing the same language.
C. Comparison of Esperanto and other languages like English and
Chinese.
D. The most successful planned language — Esperanto.
Passage 33 World tunes
Beautiful music flows from his dancing hands and speaks a language for all people — young and old, rich and poor — to hear. It is a language of love and romance.
With "Pour Elise" (《致爱丽丝》) and "Ballade Pour Adeline" 《水边的阿蒂丽娜》), French pianist Richard Clayderman is loved by millions all over the world. His lively, yet soft piano playing is his trademark.
And now, he has mixed his music with the sounds of the East. Clayderman, with his blonde (金色的) hair and blue eyes, recently cooperated with China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra (CBCO，中国广播民族乐团) to record his latest album "New Era" (《新时代》), which was released across the world last Wednesday.
"I have been intoxicated (陶醉) by Chinese folk music. It's a treasure worthy of being introduced to the world. I hope my piano and interpretation (阐释) can bridge the West and the East," said the 49-year-old pianist.
Some of the most famous folk music in China, including "Faraway Place" (《在那遥远的地方》) and "Kang Ding Love Song" (《康定情歌》), is interpreted by the pianist, who is also known as the "Prince of Romance".
Clayderman has created a whirlwind of passion, which sweeps listeners off their feet and off to a faraway grassland.
And for the first time in his life, Clayderman plays the piano alongside traditional Chinese instruments such as the erhu, pipa and flute (笛子).
"The magic erhu works very well with the piano and helps to create a sense of quietness and mystery in the peaceful beauty of the music."
To record "Cicada" (《蝉之歌》), a folk song of the Dong ethnic group (侗族), the musician made several visits to the mountainous villages where the Dong people live in Yunnan Province. "Cicada", he says, is a conversation between the piano and erhu. It is also a communication between western and
traditional Chinese music.
Clayderman is not the first western musician to be charmed by Chinese folk music. In 1992, Heinrich Schweizer, a composer (作曲家) in Switzerland, wrote the "East and West Symphony" (《东西之声交响乐》) to celebrate the cultural meeting of China and the West. His work weaves Chinese traditional folk songs with classical Western music to produce an original (原创的) orchestral sound.
Traditional ways of life are disappearing in this fast developing world. So, combining the old with the new is important in keeping alive the great diversity (多样性) of cultures. "This cooperation with western music is an efficient way to promote Chinese folk music to the world," said Zhang Gaoxiang,
vice-director of CBCO.
1.What makes Richard Clayderman different from other musicians?
A. He is called Prince of Romance.
B. Pour Elise & Ballade Pour Adeline.
C. East and West Symphony.
D. His vibrant yet soft piano playing.
2.It was the pianist's hope to ________ through his latest album.
A. play the piano alongside traditional Chinese music instruments.
B. celebrate the cultural meeting of east and west.
C. create a world of quietness and mystery.
D. interpret Chinese music in his own way.
3.What does the word in the tenth paragraph "weave" mean?
A. Mix.
B. Include.
C. Play.
D. Show.
Passage 34 Artist's dream comes true after death
He lived his whole life as a poor man. His art and talent were recognized by almost no one. He suffered from a mental illness that led him to cut off part of his left ear in 1888 and to shoot himself two years later.
But in his death, he achieved world fame.
Today, Dutch (荷兰) artist Vincent van Gogh is recognized as one of the leading artists of all time. Postcards and posters of his paintings and drawings continue to sell like hot cakes.
Now, 150 years after his birth on March 30, 1853, Zundert, the town of his birth, has made 2003 "The van Gogh Year" in his honour.
And the van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam (阿姆斯特丹), home to the biggest collection of his masterpieces, is marking the anniversary (周年纪念) with exhibitions throughout the year.
"He is a big name like Einstein and Beethoven. He is such a great figure. We are always amazed by how popular he is and his popularity seems to be growing," said Andreas Bluehm, the museum's head of exhibitions.
The museum draws around 1.3 million visitors every year. Some people enjoy the art and then learn about his life. Others are first interested in his life, which then helps them understand his art.
Van Gogh was the son of a pastor (牧师). He left school when he was just 15. By the age of 27, he had already tried many jobs including an art gallery (画廊) salesman and a French teacher. Finally in 1880, he decided to begin his studies in art.
His masterpieces including portraits (人物肖像), sunflowers and landscapes (风景) were produced in just 10 years.
Van Gogh is famed for his ability to put his own emotions into his paintings and show his feelings about a scene. His style is marked by short, broad brushstrokes (笔画).
"Instead of trying to reproduce exactly what I have before my eyes, I use colour more freely, in order to express myself more forcibly," he wrote in a letter to his brother, Theo, in 1888.
Van Gogh sold only one painting during his short life. He relied heavily on support from Theo, an art dealer who lived in Paris.
But now his works are sold for millions of dollars. His "Portrait of Dr. Gachet" (《伽塞医生的肖像》) sold for US$89.5 million in 1990. It is the highest price ever paid for a painting.
"I think his paintings are powerful and the brilliant colours in them are attractive to people," said Molly Anderson, a van Gogh fan.
1. What does the fifth paragraph mean?
A. The van Gogh museum will give exhibitions the whole year through.
B. The van Gogh museum holds the biggest collection of his masterpieces.
C. The van Gogh museum will host a big and long celebration for van Gogh this year.
D. The exhibitions will be held in honour of van Gogh.
2. What does the word “figure” in the sixth paragraph mean?
A. Man.
B. Name.
C. Number.
D. Form.
3. Why did the writer cite (引用) a part of a letter written by van Gogh?
A. To show van Gogh's skill.
B. To show his style.
C. To show that he was an emotional person.
D. To show he was an unusual man.
Passage 35 Norah wins big at Grammy Awards
Norah Jones had a sleepless night on February 23. The 23-year-old American jazz singer, who found her voice in the small clubs of New York, dominated (统治) the 45th annual Grammy Awards —the music industry's most prestigious (赫赫有名的) award ceremony.
She seemed as surprised as everyone else that her first album, "Come Away With Me", was such a big success. It won her the most wanted awards, including Album of the Year (年度最佳专辑), Song of the Year and Best New Artist.
"I can't believe this, I feel really blessed and really lucky to have this year," said the wide-eyed girl at the ceremony.
Jones grew up in Texas, US, with her mother. Her parents separated before she was born. She began singing in church choirs (唱诗班) at the age of five and started piano lessons two years later.
At the age of 15, Jones entered the High School for the Performing Arts in Washington. She won Best Jazz Singer and Best Original Composition (最佳原创作品) at the 1996 and 1997 Student Music Awards.
She had always enjoyed singing, but felt the piano would be a more solid foundation in life. So Jones chose to study jazz piano music at the University of North Texas for two years before taking a trip to New York city.
The trip started out as a summer vacation. But Jones soon realized she wanted to stay for a while. "The music scene in New York is so huge and exciting. Everything opened up for me. I couldn't leave," she said.
Jones became friends with local songwriters and was inspired (激励) to write her own songs. She began to sing and play the piano in a band. She got her break in 2001 and released "Come Away With Me" the following year.
The album is a blend (融合) of jazz, country and folk-pop. It has now sold more than 6 million copies around the world and has won much praise from the music industry. "She makes an album that people will remember in 20 years," said American country singer Faith Hill.
What is jazz?
Jazz is generally thought to have begun in New Orleans, US. It developed in the latter part of the 19th century from African work songs, songs of sorrow and hymns (赞美诗). The character of Jazz is spontaneous (自然的) and emotional. It is usually played by small bands made up of a cornet (短号), clarinet (单簧管), trombone (长号) and guitar.
1. Norah Jones had a sleepless night on February 23. From this sentence, we can see she was ______ that night.
A. tired
B. having difficulties going to sleep
C. excited
D. too busy to sleep
2. What does the writer mean by saying"…who found her voice in the small clubs of New York" in the first paragraph?
A. She once lost her voice and after some medical treatment in New York, she found her voice.
B. Her experiences in those clubs helped her realize she was a good singer.
C. She started to sing in those clubs.
D. Her experiences in those clubs helped her develop her singing style.
3. At the end of paragraph 3, the writer uses the description "wide-eyed" to show Norah was ______.
A. a girl with big eyes
B. very surprised
C. inexperienced
D. opening her eyes wide
4. Put the events listed below in the correct order.
a. Norah started learning the piano
b. she won Student Music Awards
c. she studied Jazz piano music
d. she sang in church choirs
e. she took a trip to New York
A. abcde
B. dabce
C. dcabe
D. abdce
5. At the end of the last paragraph but two (倒数第二段), the writer mentions that "she got her break in 2001". What does it mean?
A. She got a rest that year.
B. She made some changes that year.
C. She reached a high point that year.
D. A lucky chance appeared and she made some achievement that year.
Passage 36 Stories mirror society
A young man stood for a long time in front of a grocery store (杂货店). His eyes were fixed upon the busy shopkeeper: his laugh, his frown(皱眉头) and the way he chatted with the customers. Suddenly he got an idea.
No, this is not a scene from a detective story. The young man was simply an apprentice (学徒) doing his homework. He had been asked to portray (描绘) the shopkeeper so that he could be easily recognized. And his work would be presented, not with a brush, but with words on paper.
The young man was Guy de Maupassant, one of the greatest French short story writers to have ever lived. He practised this method of observation for a whole year under the guidance of his teacher, Gustave Flaubert (古斯塔夫·福楼拜), who was also a master of French literature (文学) in the 19th century.
Maupassant's sharp observations later greatly contributed to his stories. Maupassant was brought up in Normandy (诺曼底) in northwest France. At the age of 20, he studied law in Paris for a short time and then served in the army during the Franco-Prussian War (普法战争). When he returned from battle, he worked as a civil servant for eight years.
In 1880, he published his first short story "Ball of Fat" (《羊脂球》), which became one of his 300 works.
Maupassant treated his subjects with simplicity, clarity, and objectivity (客观性). He was mainly inspired(产生灵感) by peasant life, the cruel war he experienced and life in Paris.
His stories tend to be built around simple everyday events, which show people's hidden characteristics and mirror the truths of society.
Later, Maupassant suffered from mental illness and he died in 1893 at the age of 43.
1. Why did the young man stand for a long time in front of a store? Because he was ______.
A. asked to spy on the shopkeeper
B. studying the shopkeeper
C. portraying the shopkeeper
D. going to be a shopkeeper
2. What does the word "apprentice" in the second paragraph mean?
A. Student.
B. Clerk.
C. Detective.
D. Painter.
3. What helped him with his writing?
A. His simplicity.
B. His knowledge.
C. His observation.
D. His clarity.
4. What does the word "mirror" in the last but two paragraphs (倒数第
二段) mean?
A. Copy.
B. Tell.
C. Explain.
D. Show.
Passage 37 Old words are wise words
EDITOR'S note: The works of British essayist (散文家) Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) are well-known throughout Chinese high schools.
Nearly 400 years ago in April he breathed his last breath. Today, his essays on friendship, self-love and being young, for example, still remain relevant (相关的) to students throughout the world.
Here, the School Edition presents Sir Bacon's essay on studying. Some of the words have been simplified.
Of study
Studies serve to delight, for ornament (装饰), and for ability. Their chief use for delight, is in private; for ornament, is in conversation; and for ability, is in the judgment of business... To spend too much time in studies is not healthy; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation(矫揉造作); to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the characteristic of a scholar (学究).
Studies perfect nature, and are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning (修剪); and studies themselves, give too many general directions in life, they need to be bound (约束) by experiences...
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence
and attention...
Reading makes a full man; discussion a ready man(明辨是非的人); and writing an exact man.
And therefore, if a man writes little, he has need for a great memory; if he discusses little, he has need for a ready wit (睿智); and if he reads little, he has need for much cunning (狡黠) to pretend he has more knowledge than he does...
Bowling(球类运动) is good for kidneys(肾); shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like.
So if a man's wit lacks focus, let him study mathematics. For if his mind starts wandering (走神), even a little, he must go back to the beginning of his problem again. If his wit is not able to find differences, let him study the philosophers; for they are cymini sectores (Latin for "hair-splitters" —people who examine problems very closely). If he is not able to use one thing to prove another, let him study the lawyers' cases.
So every defect (缺陷) of the mind may have a special remedy (治疗法).
1. When you talk with someone, your studies enable you to ______.
A. enjoy discussions.
B. understand others.
C. contribute something to the discussions.
D. make judgements.
2. What does the writer mean by saying: "Studies are perfected by experiences"?
A. There are so many directions in life, you may get lost without
experiences.
B. Without your own experiences, you won't know what to believe in
life.
C. Without your own experiences, you won't really understand what
you've studied.
D. Without your own experiences, you won't know what direction to
follow.
3. In the fourth paragraph，the sentence: "Reading makes a full man", full means ______.
A. cunning
B. knowledgeable
C. complete
D. satisfied
4. Studying law helps a person _____.
A. examine problems
B. learn to prove things
C. focus
D. find differences
Passage 38 Colors and feelings
Human feelings are affected by color unconsciously. Manufacturers have discovered by trial and error that sugar sells badly in green wrappings, that blue foods are considered by consumers as tasteless, and that cosmetics should never be packaged in brown. These discoveries have grown into a whole discipline of color psychology. Some of our preferences are clearly psychological. Dark blue is the color of the night sky and therefore associated with quiet and calm; While yellow is a key color in association with energy. For primitive men, activity during the day time meant hunting and attacking, which he soon saw red,the color of blood and the fire. So it was natural that green, the complementary color to red, should be associated with passive defense. Experiments have shown that colors also have a direct psychological effect. People when exposed to bright red, show an increase in breathing rate, heart beat and blood pressure. Red is exciting. Similar exposure to pure blue has exactly the opposite effect, because it is a calming color. Because red has an implication of exciting, it was chosen as the signal for danger. Some analysis shows that a vivid yellow can produce a more basic state of alarm. So fire engines and ambulances in some advanced countries are now rushing around in bright yellow colors that stop traffic deed.
1.What color makes people feel exciting? __________-
A.Red.
B.Green.
C.Blue.
D.Brown.
2.Why should green be associated with passive defense? Because
________
A.we usually see it
B.it can make us excited
C.it’s the complementary color to red
D.it makes people feel comfortable
3.When you are angry, what color is suitable for you? ________
A.Red
B.Yellow
C.Blue.
D.White.
Passage 39 Antique Map Fair Opens in Miami
Antique map dealers and collectors from as far as Australia and Argentina are in Miami for what is described as the premier annual map fair held in the Western Hemisphere. Some of the maps on display go as back as the 1500s, and reveal a great deal about the challenges early explorers faced, and the geo-political attitudes held by cartographers from centuries past.
Maps of every size and geographical region plaster the walls of the Historical Museum of Southern Florida, attracting throngs of people, from life-long collectors to the simply curious. One of the coordinators of the event, Jodi Weitz, says the maps are stunning pieces of art and fascinating historical documents. “I like to see the artwork that goes into them, the detail, the way have been so carefully preserved,” she said. “You can see the type of paper that was used 300,400 years ago, and inks that were used. The pieces look unbelievable. You can’t believe the shape they are in”
British map collector and dealer David Bannister says be has been coming to Miami since the yearly event began in 1994. He says the average person would be hard-pressed to acquire anything of a historical nature dating back 300 to 500 years, he says, are an exception. “Map collecting is really quite extraordinary, because it is still possible to 16th century items on paper,” he said. “I mean, go try to find a 16th century teaspoon or a fork or something. You can’t find them, and if you can, they are not affordable.”
Most maps range in price from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Many are ornate, inscribed with notations about various regions of the world and decorated with drawings. Perhaps the most spectacular item on display is a map printed in Venice in 1511, one of the earliest-known maps to chart at least a portion of the Americas, including two separate representations of Cuba.
1.The premier annual map fair opens in__________.
A. London
B. Paris
C. Sydney
D. Miami
2.The 2003 Antique Map Fair was the _____ event for map dealers and
collectors in Miami.
A. 10th
B. 9th
C. 16th
D. 1st
3.Why does the author quote what David Bannister said ?
A.to show the event is interesting for ordinary people.
B.To show his passion on the event.
C.To stress that map collectors and dealers will benefit from the event.
D.To tell readers that ancient maps are much more expensive than any
other ancient article.
Passage 40 Earthworks
According to an old Chinese saying, the earth of different regions raises different types of people. Most Chinese are sentimentally attached to the earth of their hometowns.
Now a UK artist has provoked Chinese people into rethinking their relationship with the earth of their native regions with an artwork named “Asian Field”.
Antony Gormley is the artist who generated this idea, guiding over 300 people of all ages from Huadu District in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, to co-operate in a unique installation this January.
The installation consists of 192，000 hand-sized clay figures. According to Gormley, it has taken over 100 tons of mud to create all the figures. The artist claimed making Asian Field in China turned out to be a very wonderful experience for him.
Since 1990, Gormley has held such “Field” exhibitions in five different regions of the world, and this one is the largest so far---five times larger than any of the Field exhibited in other areas.
It is also one of its largest touring art exhibitions in China this year, the British Council has revealed. The installation has been on display in Guangzhou and Beijing already, with more than 10,000 viewers attending.
Gormley also found people in China had got into the spirit of making these sculptures more quickly than anywhere else in the world. He was also impressed by the level of co-operation and mutual support which occurred naturally during the process of creating the installation among the 300 people.
Although each clay figure seems simple and crude, Gormley believe each is unique.When the figures are put side by side to form a spectacular scene, it re minds the artist of “a kind of collaboration with the spirits of the unborn and of the ancestors”.
For Gormley, his series of Field works reveals the differences between the
individuals who make the work and also the differences existing between one geographical area and another. He want to pass such feelings on to the viewers.
1.What’s the main purpose of writing this passage?
A.to reveal what an earthwork is.
B.To introduce Gormley, a UK artist.
C.To explain an old Chinese saying.
D.To introduce the touring exhibition ----Asian Field.
2.What feelings does the artist want to pass on to the viewers in his series of
Field works?
A.the differences existing between one geographical area and another.
B.the differences between the individuals who make the work.
C. Most Chinese are sentimentally attached to the earth of their
hometowns.
D. both A and B.
专题四文化艺术练习答案及详解
Passage 31 1. A 2. C 3. B
拥抱知识经济时代，对一个学生来说意味着什么？
1．细节题。

答案：A。

2．细节题。

答案：C。

3．判断题。

答案：B。

Passage 32 1. A 2. B 3. D 4. D
世界语真的能成为全球性的语言吗？
1。

理解文章第一段，得到答案：A。

2．猜词义。

答案：WORK FOR。

3．细节题。

答案：D。

1．主旨题。

答案：D。

Passage 33 1. D 2. B 3. A
钢琴大师克莱德曼和中国民族乐器笛子琵琶二胡同台演奏，韵味无
穷。

1．细节题。

答案：D。

文章第二段最后一句提供信息源。

2．细节题。

文中第三段。

recently cooperated with China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra(CBCO，中国广播民族乐团) to
record his latest album "New Era" (《新时代》), which was released
across the world last Wednesday. 一句提供解答的依据。

3．猜词义。

答案：A。

Passage 34 1. C 2. A 3. B
被命运捉弄的凡高在惊世的作品中得到永生。

1．段落大意理解。

理解文中anniversary一词得到答案：C。

2．猜词义。

答案：A。

3．句子理解。

引用凡高信中的话"Instead of trying to reproduce exactly what I have before my eyes, I use colour more freely, in order to
express myself more forcibly,"是为了说明他的艺术风格。

Passage 35 1. C 2. D 3. B 4. B 5.D
看看Norah Jones的成功经历能带给我们一点什么启示。

1．细节理解题。

答案：C。

2．推测句义。

答案：D。

3．词义判断。

答案：B。

4．事件排序。

答案：B。

5．句子理解。

答案：D。

Passage 36 1. B 2. A 3. C 4. D
小说家莫泊桑以犀利的目光、独特的角度展现世事百态。

他的人生经历你了解多少？
1．细节题。

答案：B。

2．猜词义。

Apprentice 是“学徒”的意思。

3．细节题。

答案：C。

4．猜词义。

答案：D。

Passage 37 1. C 2. C 3. B 4. B
“名篇恒久远，真谛永流传”，让我们再读读散文大师培根的“论求知”吧！
1．推断题。

答案：C。

2．句子理解。

答案：C。

3．猜词义。

答案：B。

4．细节题。

答案：B。

Passage 38 1. A 2. C 3. C
1.细节题。

答案：A。

2.细节题。

文中So it was natural that green, the complementary
color to red, should be associated with passive defense.一句给出
答案：C。

3.推理题。

你生气的时候需要平静，蓝色使人平静。

答案：C。

Passage 39 1. D 2. A 3. C
珍稀地图交易会从1994年开始在MIAMI 举行。

1．细节题。

答案：D。

2．计算题。

答案：A。

3．段义理解。

理解文章第三段。

答案：C。

Passage 40 1. D 2. D
地景艺术品是一种通过改变某一地区的土地或自然地理景观而制成的艺术品,英国艺术家GORMLEY的Asian FIELD 在各大城市展出。

1．主旨题。

文章的写作目的是介绍这个展览。

2．细节题。

文章最后一段提供解答的信息源。